riverbendracine.org - Professional Women's Group

Our Vision: to provide our network of employed Dress for Success women the partnership of support, practical information and inspiration to achieve self-defined success in career and life.

We provide our clients with information that will help women unfamiliar with the workplace continue to develop skills and advance in their careers. The Professional Women's Group offers members a comfortable atmosphere in which they can share, grow and network with other women who have recently made the same transition into the workforce.

Membership is open to Dress for Success clients who have successfully gained employment.
Each regularly scheduled meeting consists of two key elements: an expert speaker leading a discussion and a networking period.
Monthly meetings cover a variety of subjects and activities that promote professional development. Topics include communication skills, the "unwritten rules" of the workplace, childcare issues, financial planning, stress management and juggling responsibilities, among others.
Professional Women's Group members have access to product discounts and professional resources to help them further their personal and professional growth.

What: The Professional Women’s Group is an international networking association for Dress for Success clients who have recently entered the workforce, some for the first time. The PWG was created to promote job retention and career advancement by providing valuable skill-building information while creating a safe environment to network with other professionals. It is the first and only employment retention model that moves low-income women towards self-sufficiency by addressing their social and economic needs in relation to work, home and community.

Why: Women making the transition from welfare to work face a myriad of challenges, from understanding corporate culture to handling personal finances, often with no support or guidance. The Professional Women’s Group provides a safe environment where members can learn how to network and develop their professional skills.

How: Members attend monthly seminars on a variety of career development topics. Each meeting consists of two key elements: an expert speaker leading an informational discussion and a networking period. Speaker topics include financial planning, time management, the unwritten rules of the workplace and professional communication. Membership in the PWG is lifelong. Members receive picture identification cards, benefits packages that provide discounts on various products and services and, of course, additional clothing to complete a working wardrobe.

Where: Dress for Success operates Professional Women’s Groups in the following cities:

Atlanta, GA	Detroit, MI	Memphis, TN	Portland, OR
Auckland, New Zealand	Fort Myers, FL	Metro DC	Rio Grande Valley, TX
Birmingham, AL	Halifax, Canada	Mid-Fairfield County, CT	Salem, OR
Boise, ID	Hartford, CT	Midwest St. Louis, MO	San Diego, CA
Boston, MA	Houston, TX	Morris County, NJ	Seattle, WA
Brookhaven, NY	Jackson, MI	New Bedford, MA	Shreveport-Bossier, LA
Charleston, WV	Jacksonville, FL	New Orleans, LA	Southern Illinois, IL
Charlotte, NC	Jersey City, NJ	New York, NY	Tampa Bay, FL
Cincinnati, OH	Joliet, IL	NW Minnesota, MN	Vancouver, Canada
Cleveland, OH	Little Rock, AR	Palm Beach Co., FL	Western Mass., MA
Colorado Springs, CO	London, England	Peoria, IL	Wichita, KS
Corpus Christi, TX	Los Angeles, CA	Pittsburgh, PA	Ypsilanti, MI
	Louisville, KY		Racine, WI

Empowering Women's Center
1220 Villa St.
Racine, WI 53403
262-989-YWCA (9922)

Carla Ward, Program Director
cward@ywcaofracine.org